Pol Pot was a ruthless dictator who led Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge. In power from 1976-1979, up to 2.5 million of the indigenous Khmer population were murdered under his orders. He was intending to cleanse the population of all those who either opposed him or were in a position to do so. For this reason, the educated people were targeted.
Pol Pot also impoverished the majority of his people by forcing all city dwellers to move to rural areas and farm the land. All of the produce went to the government and no skills or training were provided for these new farmers. It was also well known that if you did not meet production quotas, it would cost you your life.
The most famous of the the prisons operated by the Khmer Rouge was called Tuol Sleng or Prison 21. Built on the grounds of a high school, the prison was notorious. Its rules included:
1. Do not try to hide facts by making excuses. You are strictly prohibited from contesting me.
2. While being lashed or electrocuted, you must not cry at all.
3. Disobey any rule and you will get 5 lashes with an electric wire.
Much like the Nazi concentration camps, the Khmer Rouge documented ever prisoner and atrocity. Upon arrival, each prisoner's picture was taken and a detailed biography was documented. Prisoners were then confined to cells approximately the size of a closet by chaining them to iron posts. Daily torture was undertaken through beatings, electric shock and other atrocities. At the end of their imprisonment, prisoners were marched about two miles to the killing fields. To save bullets, the Khmer Rouge beat them to death.
The atrocious numbers for Tuol Sleng:
From 10,500 to 14,500 adult prisoners.
Another 2,000 children prisoners.
7 survived.
Only 2 Khmer have ever been prosecuted for the atrocity.
Pol Pot was a ruthless dictator who led Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge. In power from 1976-1979, up to 2.5 million of the indigenous Khmer population were murdered under his orders. He was intending to cleanse the population of all those who either opposed him or were in a position to do so. For this reason, the educated people were targeted.
Pol Pot also impoverished the majority of his people by forcing all city dwellers to move to rural areas and farm the land. All of the produce went to the government and no skills or training were provided for these new farmers. It was also well known that if you did not meet production quotas, it would cost you your life.
The most famous of the the prisons operated by the Khmer Rouge was called Tuol Sleng or Prison 21. Built on the grounds of a high school, the prison was notorious. Its rules included:
1. Do not try to hide facts by making excuses. You are strictly prohibited from contesting me.
2. While being lashed or electrocuted, you must not cry at all.
3. Disobey any rule and you will get 5 lashes with an electric wire.
Much like the Nazi concentration camps, the Khmer Rouge documented ever prisoner and atrocity. Upon arrival, each prisoner's picture was taken and a detailed biography was documented. Prisoners were then confined to cells approximately the size of a closet by chaining them to iron posts. Daily torture was undertaken through beatings, electric shock and other atrocities. At the end of their imprisonment, prisoners were marched about two miles to the killing fields. To save bullets, the Khmer Rouge beat them to death.
The atrocious numbers for Tuol Sleng:
From 10,500 to 14,500 adult prisoners.
Another 2,000 children prisoners.
7 survived.
Only 2 Khmer have ever been prosecuted for the atrocity.